Refrigerator
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing refrigerators with rotatable outer doors have exposed hinges and reed switches that compromise the outer door's appearance and require increased thickness to maintain a separation distance between the reed switch and magnet, affecting design aesthetics and efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A refrigerator design featuring a hinge bracket that penetrates the inner door's front plate through a through hole, with a hinge cover and reed switch positioned on the hinge cover, minimizing hinge exposure and securing a separation distance between the reed switch and magnet without increasing the outer door's thickness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Shape
If the hinge is installed horizontally on the inner door, then the outer door can be rotatably coupled with the inner door, but the hinge and hinge cover are exposed to the outside, compromising the appearance
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge bracket is installed inside the inner door by penetrating through the front plate, with the fixing plate coupled to the upper cap. This nesting arrangement hides the hinge components within the door structure, eliminating external exposure and improving appearance while maintaining the rotatable coupling function between the outer and inner doors.
Solution Approach 2:
The hinge bracket is repositioned from a horizontal external installation to a vertical internal installation through the front plate. This dimensional change moves the hinge components from the external surface to the internal structure, resolving the appearance issue while preserving functionality.
2Reliability
If the reed switch and magnet are installed horizontally, then the door opening/closing can be detected, but the outer door thickness must be increased to maintain the separation distance
Solution Approach 1:
The reed switch and magnet are repositioned from a horizontal arrangement to a vertical arrangement along the thickness direction of the outer door. This dimensional change allows the required separation distance to be achieved within the existing door thickness, eliminating the need to increase the door thickness while maintaining reliable detection functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The installation orientation of the reed switch and magnet is changed from horizontal to vertical, altering the spatial parameter of their separation. This parameter change enables the maintenance of the required separation distance for reliable detection without increasing the overall door thickness.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Improves the outer door's appearance by minimizing hinge exposure and maintains efficient detection of door opening/closing without increasing the door's thickness, enhancing design aesthetics and operational efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
a reed switch and a magnet are provided to detect an opening/closing of the outer door
Data Source
AI summary
A refrigerator includes: a main body including a storage area; an inner door including a door storage space, the inner door being rotatably coupled with the main body; an outer door; and a hinge rotatably coupling the outer door with the inner door, the hinge including a hinge bracket that includes a fixing plate coupled with the inner door, and a hinge shaft on which the outer door is rotatable, wherein the inner door further includes a front plate forming a front surface of the inner door, and an upper cap coupled with an upper end of the front plate, wherein the front plate includes a through hole, and wherein the hinge bracket penetrates the through hole such that the fixing plate is coupled with the upper cap.